Roger Goodell: NFL Could Eventually Play 'At Least' 16 International Games per Year
April 26, 2024
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is targeting increased exposure internationally for the league.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Goodell spoke about the league's efforts in foreign markets and projected that 16 international games could be coming in the near future.
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow"We really do believe that we are a global sport..<br><br>I see us playing at least sixteen games in the international market but that might be ten years out..<br><br>I think maybe a franchise at some point but that's beyond ten years" ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/nflcommish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nflcommish</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMSLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMSLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/1zWHonmMts">pic.twitter.com/1zWHonmMts</a>
"We really do believe that we are a global sport," Goodell said. "I see us playing at least sixteen games in the international market but that might be ten years out, but I see us getting there at some point."
Goodell also referred to an international team or even a division as a possibility, although he did note that it was likely "more than 10 years out."
The NFL had five games held internationally in 2023 and will have five in 2024. Three games in 2023 took place in England while Germany hosted the other two. Both countries will host games in 2024, with Brazil also hosting a game. Since 2005, the NFL has hosted 50 games internationally.
England, Mexico, Germany and Canada have hosted regular season NFL games in the past, and five international games is the most the league has had in a single season. Goodell's comments about that number increasing to 16 shows that the league may rapidly approach this expansion of the international series. The league's owners notably voted in 2023 to increase the international game inventory to eight games per year starting in 2025.
